The Storm - Background

WHO ARE WE?
"The Northern Indiana Storm" or "The Storm" as we are more commonly known as, is a recreational and competitive cheer program that is celebrating its 6th season here in Northwest Indiana. It is a non-for profit organization run with very dedicated parents and experienced volunteers. We work with the youth of several surrounding communities in Indiana to strengthen a child's knowledge base of cheer and dance while insisting the children who are involved, maintain a "C" average or better. We are proud to be a charter member under the AAU or the Amateur Athletic Union, which is one of the oldest, non-for profit sports organizations in the nation celebrating it's 120th year in supporting organized group sports for children 5-19 years of age. Just so you know, a year with AAU/The Storm is defined as September 1 through August 31. The AAU, our parent organization, provides countless meets and the potential to advance to the National Level of competition. We are proud that Cheerleading is finally being accepted for a physically demanding and wildly popular sport. The Storm has won many awards for our performances over the years, including being ranked Nationally.
WHAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED IN 5 YEARS
We are still the only private NON PROFIT year long Competitive and Non Competitive Cheer team in the Tri-town area. We are the most cost effective program in the area, bar none. You get all of the perks of cheerleading without having to pay a coach or hidden monthly fees. We have tried to include all expenses up front to keep you from having to reach for your checkbook every month. All the fundraising we do early in the year goes back into our program to help it survive and provide opportunities for your children and their coaches. None of our staff receives any money for being part of our club. We have been able to provide an extravagant awards banquet for all of our athletes every year. Our proudest moment to date, was bringing home a Silver medal at the AAU Detroit National Junior Olympics in 2003 and placing First overall in the Indiana State, and First overall in the Midwest Region meet in 2006. We have registered children in this program from very limited to superior athletic ability. We are constantly reevaluating our programs and enhancing them for the advancement of our sport. We are extremely happy to have coached girls who have gone on to make their middle school, high school, and now even college teams! We have invested in coaches training, regulation mats, and belt harnesses to encourage safe tumbling while learning. The way we keep this great program going is by expecting every person who comes into The Storm to give us a 110 percent commitment to do his or her very best, so that we can all benefit the community we represent.

WHAT WE BELIEVE
The Storm believes in a healthy, wholesome environment where kids can make mistakes but can also learn from them as well. We strive to offer your family an economically feasible solution to cheerleading competitions and all of the costs involved with a traveling team. We require a yearly doctor's exam to show the participants physical eligibility and we abide by the rules set forth by the IHSFA, USASF, and the AAU. Safety is our utmost concern and this organization provides a fun and sometimes challenging after school activity for children.

WHAT WE EXPECT FROM OUR STAFF
We will do everything in our power to provide a caring, learning and nurturing environment, we are passionate about our sport and that is what drove us to begin this movement in the first place.
Our all-volunteer staff knows how important your children are and they are prepared to take the necessary measures to insure a quality program. When we appoint coaches or other volunteers to help in our program, we require a thorough background check. We also require all Head Coaches to receive an up to date certificate, which is kept in their file to show they have successfully completed training in CPR. In addition, we require them to attend a mandatory coaches clinic and to take the NYSCA certification course. You should understand that these things are done for the utmost safety of everyone involved here in our organization and you can be sure that we are trying our best to give you the best.

OUR ULTIMATE GOAL
Since 1997, Cheerleading has been recognized as a Jr. Olympic Sporting event and while Cheer and Dance has been represented as a sport at the Junior Olympics for only the past 9 years, it is still continuing in its' popularity. The AAU is proud to announce that the 2008 games will be held in Detroit Michigan. Our ultimate goal every year is to attend the Jr. Olympics; and since those are held in a different state every year just like the Official Olympics, we have to consider the high cost for traveling and lodging every season. Because the games are usually held during the last week of July or first week of August, you don't have to worry about taking your children out of school. Each of the registered families will be expected to help with acquiring the necessary funds to attend such functions.

HOW WE BREAK DOWN AGE GROUPS
Your paid registration includes some prepaid competitions, which are announced once the season gets under way. Any competitions that are not included may be considered and approved once the Board of Directors and money to participate has been addressed.
We have an EXHIBITION team designed for those children 8 and under who don't want to compete so aggressively or have limited skills but want to learn cheer and dance moves. These girls will perform for an audience every year at a given place and time not determined until after the start of the season. In addition, we will have COMPETITION squads for older children and those who are more serious about competing. Based on interest and ability, they will be divided into different age groups.

- Youth Recreational 1 8 Years & Younger EXHIBITION
- Youth Recreational 2 4th Grade & Younger EXHIBITION/COMPETITION
- Jr. Prep Recreational 9th Grade & Under COMPETITION
- Senior Open 12th Grade & Under COMPETITION
- LEVEL 5 12th Grade and Under ALL STAR COMPETITION

UNIFORMS
The price of your paid registration includes a full uniform and so it belongs to you. 2007 marks a new year and a new uniform, which won't be changed again until 2012.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact any of The Storm Staff members and they will be happy to get you the information you need to make the best choices for your child (Click on Contact Information in the left column). A whole new world awaits you when you join the Northern Indiana Storm Cheer and Dance Association.

We are proud to say that our programs motto continues to be our foundation,
"For the Love of the Kids, For the Love of the Sport"

We look forward to cheering from you soon.

The AAU Staff of The Northern Indiana Storm